A novel way to stop us Brits drinking so much wine has been suggested by medics - smaller glasses.

Research published today has shown that modern glasses are an astonishing seven times the size of ones commonly used 300 years ago, and the past two decades have seen the biggest increases.

The recent soar in glass sizes matches with a recent rise in the nation's wine consumption, which doubled between 1980 and 2004.

The study, published in the British Medical Journal, examines this possible link - although cheaper prices, wider availability and greater marketing of wine were also likely to play a role.

The data about glass sizes over time was obtained by researchers who conducted online searches and spoke to experts in antique glassware, including museum curators, to obtain measurements of 411 glasses from 1700 to modern day.

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They found that wine glass capacity increased from 66ml in the 1700s to 417ml in the 2000s, with the mean wine glass size in 2016/17 being 449ml.

In a separate experiment carried out in Cambridge last year, researchers found that selling wine in larger glasses - even when the amount in the glass remained the same - may encourage people to drink more.

They found using larger glasses led to an almost 10 percent increase in sales.

Professor Theresa Marteau, director of the Behaviour and Health Research Unit at Cambridge University, said: "Wine will no doubt be a feature of some merry Christmas nights, but when it comes to how much we drink, wine glass size probably does matter."

Alcohol is the fifth largest risk factor for premature mortality and disability in high income countries.

(Image: VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images)

Dr Zorana Zupan, first author of the glass size study, said: "Our findings suggest that the capacity of wine glasses in England increased significantly over the past 300 years.

"For the most part, this was gradual, but since the 1990s, the size has increased rapidly.

"Whether this led to the rise in wine consumption in England, we can't say for certain, but a wine glass 300 years ago would only have held about a half of today's small measure.

"On top of this, we also have some evidence that suggests wine glass size itself influences consumption."